Europe & Eurasia

The US Capitol, January 6, 2021.

Mon, Dec 20, 2021

2021: DFRLab’s year in review

The DFRLab's 2021 year in review: disinformation campaigns, troll farms, troop buildups, vaccine rumors, a failed insurrection, and more.

by Andy Carvin

Belarus COVID-19
SAR imagery of a camp in Valuyki, a Russian town located approximately 15 km from the Ukraine border.

Fri, Dec 17, 2021

Russia continues to expand military presence near Ukraine border

Satellite imagery and open-source evidence reveals ongoing Russian buildup along their border with Ukrain

by Michael J. Sheldon

Conflict Geolocation
A passenger is seen showing his vaccination document to a train conductor in Ukraine, October 21, 2021. A vaccination certificate or a negative test is required for inter-city travel by train, bus or planes.

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Scammers use Telegram and Facebook ads to sell fake COVID certificates in Ukraine

Telegram hosts Ukrainian channels and accounts claiming to sell legitimate vaccine certificates, while FB ads are exploited to promote them.

by Roman Osadchuk

Coronavirus COVID-19
“RENT A FB ACCOUNT AND EARN FROM IT… Make good use of your Facebook account!”

Thu, Dec 16, 2021

Ukrainian Facebook account-renting scheme migrates to TikTok and Telegram

Ukrainian TikTok, Telegram, and Instagram accounts offer easy money to Facebook users willing to rent their accounts for advertising.

by Roman Osadchuk

Advertising BuiltWIth
Rotated image from a TV Zvezda video of the exercise allowed the DFRLab to geolocate the area with precision.

Fri, Dec 10, 2021

Evidence shows Russia and Belarus holding paratrooper drill near Lithuanian border

The DFRLab geolocated the joint military drill as taking place just 15 kilometers from the Lithuanian border.

by Lukas Andriukaitis

Belarus Geolocation
Screenshots of Buk-M3, 2S1, and other equipment from the 34th MRB moving to Kerch, Crimea, with the Russian word for “rushed” superimposed on them. (Source: TikTok)

Wed, Dec 8, 2021

How Russia is placing troops and equipment near the Ukraine border

Open-source evidence throughout 2021 shows Russian military buildup along Ukraine’s eastern borders and in Crimea.

by Michael J. Sheldon

Geolocation Government
RT DE logo as seen on its Facebook page.

Wed, Nov 24, 2021

How RT DE spread COVID misinformation on YouTube

YouTube banned RT DE in September 2021 after the Russian network revived an old channel to avoid an initial suspension.

by Givi Gigitashvili, Jean le Roux

Business Buzzsumo

Mon, Nov 15, 2021

Suspicious Twitter accounts amplified hashtags ahead of Polish nationalist march

Accounts promoting a nationalist march in Poland exhibited multiple indicators raising questions of their authenticity.

by Givi Gigitashvili

Eastern Europe Government
Vladimir Putin

Tue, Sep 21, 2021

Navalny’s “Smart Voting” election campaign undermined by fake apps and Telegram channels

Apps and Telegram channels impersonated their pro-Navalny counterparts, potentially redirecting voters away from strategic voting advice

by Eto Buziashvili

Elections Eurasia
Members of media attend a rally in memory of Pirveli TV channel cameraman Alexander Lashkarava, a victim of violence against LGBT+ activists and journalists last Monday, in front of the Office of the Georgian Government in Tbilisi, Georgia July 11, 2021. (Source: Reuters/Irakli Gedenidze)

Fri, Jul 23, 2021

Online calls for attacks against Georgia’s LGBTQ community result in offline violence

Anti-LGBTQ, pro-Kremlin groups, and representatives of the Orthodox Church mobilized people online for violence in real life

by Sopo Gelava, Eto Buziashvili

Caucasus Civil Society
Yevgeny Prighozin.

Thu, Jun 3, 2021

Inauthentic Facebook assets promoted Russian interests in Sudan

Network with links to Russia’s Internet Research Agency promoted oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian naval presence in Sudan

by Tessa Knight

Democratic Transitions Facebook

Sun, Feb 14, 2021

Weaponized: How rumors about COVID-19’s origins led to a narrative arms race

A joint research project from the Digital Forensic Research Lab and the Associate Press on information environments during the first six months of COVID-19.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

China Coronavirus